GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Sixty-seven percent of the University of North Dakota’s 361 student-athletes posted a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the Fall 2017 semester, according to data released today by the UND Athletics Academic Services office. Among the 242 student-athletes who had a 3.0 or higher, 36 percent of them had at least a 3.5 semester GPA and 15 percent had a perfect 4.0.

In all, UND’s student-athletes combined for a collective Fall 2017 semester GPA of 3.129. Additionally, more than 70 percent of those student-athletes (259 out of 361) earned a spot on the Fall 2017 Athletics Director’s honor Roll. To earn such distinction, student-athletes must have achieved either a semester or cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

“We are incredibly proud of the continued outstanding academic performance of our student-athletes,” said UND Athletics Director Brian Faison. “Congratulations to these exceptional young men and women who represent UND with such distinction. Thank you to our coaches for embracing the importance of academics, and to [UND Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services] Amanda Hajdu her staff -- Andres Freeman, Shane Hylton and Tyler Burmeister -- for their very personal commitment to supporting our student-athletes in academics and life skills.”

UND Athletics has achieved a collective GPA or 3.0 or higher in every semester since the University transitioned to Division I in 2008-09.

“It never gets old complimenting our student-athletes on their awesome work in the classroom. It’s a team effort from staff, coaches and student-athletes, but the student-athletes have to earn it and dedicate themselves to succeeding academically, and they repeatedly do it,” said Hajdu.

Twelve of UND’s 15 teams enjoyed a team GPA of 3.0 or better during the fall semester, led by women’s golf (3.565), women’s tennis (3.497), women’s cross country (3.495), volleyball (3.427), women’s track & field (3.398) and men’s golf (3.356).

The Fall 2017 Athletics Director’s Honor Roll members will be recognized at halftime of UND’s Feb. 8 women’s basketball game against Weber State. The entire list of honorees is posted at UNDsports.com.